Fault sensing device for a springactuated typewriter



Oct. 31, 1967 a. FRANCISCO FAULT SENSING DEVICE FOR A SPRI-NG-ACTUATED TYPEWRITER Filed March 1, 1966 INVENTOR. BERNARDINO FRANCISCO United States Patent 3,349,884 FAULT SENSING DEVICE FOR A SPRING- ACTUATED TYPEWRITER Bernardino Francisco, Fiorano, Italy, assignor to lug. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy, a corporation of Italy Filed Mar. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 530,875 Claims priority, application Italy, Mar. 5, 1965, 5,415/ 65 4 Claims. (Cl. 197-17) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE is engaged by a single yieldable element and adapted to be rendered effective when the universal bar is simultaneously engaged by two or more yieldable elements thereby preventing two or more type actions from being simultaneously operated.

The invention relates to a fault-sensing device for a spring-actuated typewriter comprising a set of depressible keys associated with a set of type actions, a cylically operating mechanism conditionable for operation of the depression of each one of said keys, and an interponent connected to each one of said actions and adapted to be coupled to a common oscillatable actuator at the depression of the associated key, said actuator being spring moved through its forward stroke for operating the action connected to the coupled interponent and being then restored by said mechanism.

In a known fault-sensing device of the above type, the common actuator is operated at a predetermined speed when coupled with a single interponent and at a speed less than said predetermined speed when two or more interponents are simultaneously coupled thereto, whereas an arresting member is operated at a speed independent from the number of coupled interponents so as to be inserted at a predetermined instant into the path of the actuator and to intercept same in the case it is operated at said lesser speed.

In this known device all the actions require the same power for being operated, as it occurs substantially for the actions of a uniform spacing typewriter. However, specifically in the proportional spacing typewriters wherein the printing face of the characters differ from character to character, the power required for printing a large face character, for example the letter M, is higher than the power required for printing a small face character, for example the punctuation signs. The various actions should be provided with a suitably tensioned restoring spring, thus causing the actions of the large face characters to be operated at a higher speed than the actions of the small face characters. Therefore, the case can occur that the speed of the actuator, when two interponents corresponding to large face characters are coupled thereto, is higher than the speed assumed when a single interponent corresponding to a small face character is coupled thereto. The above mentioned known fault sensing device is therefore unadapted to prevent in any case the simultaneous operation of two characters.

This disadvantage is obviated by the fault-sensing device according to the invention, which is characterized by a set of a yieldable elements associated with said actions and normally locked thereby, each one of said elements being released by the associated action at the beginning of its operation for engaging a universal bar connected to a normal ineffective intercepting member for said actuator, said universal bar being adapted to render said intercepting member effective when engaged simultaneously by at least two yieldable elements of said set to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than one action.

This and other characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a right hand longitudinal partial sectional view of a spring-actuated typewriter embodying a faultsensing device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view taken according to line II-II of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a right hand longitudinal partial sectiona view of a modified form of the fault sensing device;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, the typewriter comprises a set of depressible printing keys 31 associated with a set of type actions, each one comprising a type bar 7 pivoted on an arcuate rod 8 carried by the conventional type bar basket 9. Each type bar 7 is connected through a link 11 to an intermediate member or lever 12 fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 13. Each lever 12 is provided with a vane 14 having a serrated edge for connecting thereto an end of an individual restoring spring 16 in a variable position according to the surface of the characters carried by the corresponding type bar 7.

Fulcrumed on a pivot 18 carried by each lever 12 is an interponent 19 having a shoulder 21 normally latched by a latch 23. This latter is fulcrumed at 24 on the lever 12, a spring 26 being tensioned between the interponent 19 and the latch 23. The latch 23 is provided with a bent lug 27 adapted to cooperate with a trip lever 28 fulcrumed at 29 on a lever 30 carrying the corresponding printing key 31.

The interponent 1-9 is provided with a tooth 32 adapted to be coupled to an oscillatable actuator common to all the type actions, said actuator being formed of a universal bail 33 fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 34. An

arm 36 of the bail 33 is urged counterclockwise by a spring 37 and is connected through a link 38 to a lever 39 fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 41.

The lever 39 is provided with a cam following roller 42 normally urged by the spring 37 to contact a cam 43 rot-atably mounted on a shaft 44, which is continuously rotated counterclockwise by an electric motor not shown in the drawing, in a manner known per se. The cam 43 is adapted to be connected to the shaft 44 through a cycle of degrees at the depression of each printing key 31, in the manner described in the United States Patent No. 3,151,722.

The typewriter is provided with a fault-sensing device comprising a normally ineffective intercepting member formed of a projection 47 of a lever 48 fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 49. The projection 47 is adapted to intercept a bent lug 46 provided on the bail 33. The lever 48 is connected through a link 51 to an arm 52 of a universal bar 53 embracing all the intermediate levers 12 (FIG. 2) and fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 54. Connected to .a bored lug 56 of the universal bar 53 is a spring 57 (FIG. 1), which through the bar 53 and the link 51 normally urges the lever 48 to contact a stationary stop pin 58, thus holding the projection 47 out of the path of the lug 46.

The fault-sensing device comprises also a set of yieldable elements, each one associated with one of the type actions. More particularly, each yieldable element is formed of a lever 59 fulcrumed on the shaft 54 and spring 57 prevails over normally urged by an individual spring 61 to contact the upper edge of an arm 62 of the corresponding intermediate lever 12. Each spring 16 of the intermediate lever 12 prevails over the spring 61 of the corresponding lever 59. All the springs 61 have the same tension, whereas the spring 57 is so strong as to prevail over each spring 61, but as to be overcome by at least two springs 61.

The fault-sensing device operates as follows.

At the depression of a printing key 31, the corresponding trip lever 28 rocks the latch 23, thus causing the interponent 19 to engage its tooth 32 with the bail 33, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. Furthermore at the depression of the key 31, the shaft 44 rotates the cam 43 one cycle counterclockwise. Now the cam 43 releases the lever 39, thus causing the spring 37 to rock the bail 33 counterclockwise through its forward stroke.

Then the coupled interponent 19 is displaced forwards '(at left in FIG. 1) and rocks the intermediate lever 12 counterclockwise, whereby the link 11 causes the type 'bar 7 to effect an imprint on the conventional platen 63. The speed assumed by the universal bail 33 and therefore the force of the impact of the type bar 7 depends from the position and tension of the corresponding restoring spring 16. The universal bail 33 is then restored by the cam 43 counterclockwise through its return stroke, whereby the spring 37 is again tensioned. In turn the type action is restored by the spring 16.

When the lever 12 begins the counterclockwise rotation, its arm 62 releases the corresponding lever 59, which is now urged by its spring 61 to contact the universal bar 53. Since the spring 57 prevails over each spring 61, the lever 59 does not rock the bar 53. The projection 47 does not affect the bar 33 and therefore does not prevent the imprint of the type bar 7.

In the case when two or more interponents 19 are simultaneously coupled to the universal bail 33, the spring 37 begins the rotation of the universal bail 33, which through the coupled interponents 19 begins the operation of the corresponding type action. Now the intermediate levers 12 of the operated type actions release the corresponding levers 59. Since at least two springs 61 prevail over the spring 57, the universal bar 53 is now rocked counterclockwise and through the link '51 rocks the lever 48 clockwise.

The projection 47 is thus placed on the path of the lug 46 of the bail 33, which is thus intercepted and arrested in the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. The bail 33 is now unable to cause the type bars 7 corresponding to coupled interponents 19 to reach the platen 63, whereby the simultaneous operation of more than one action is prevented. The cam 43 will finish its cycle as in the preceding case, thus restoring the bail 33, while the springs 16 restore the levers 12 as well as the lever 59. However, the fault sense-d by the bar 53 is signaled to the typist in the manner described in the above cited patent.

According to a modified form of the fault-sensing device, each y-ieldable element is formed of a leaf spring 64 (FIG. 3) normally held slightly flexed by the upper edge of the arm 62 of the lever 12, the spring 16 prev-ailingover the corresponding leaf spring 64. The various leaf springs 64 are comprised in effect in a single comb member 66 (FIG. 4) secured to a stationary bar 67. The each leaf spring 64, but it may be overcome 'by at least two leaf springs 64. Therefore, in the case when at least two levers 12 (FIG. .3) begin to rock counterclockwise, the corresponding leaf springs 64 are released and simultaneously engage the universal bar 53. This latter is now rocked counterclockwise, whereby the bail 33 (FIG. 1) is arrested by the projection 47 in a 'manner similar to the preceding case.

It is intended that modifications, improvements and addition of parts may be made to the described fault-sensingdevice without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a power operated typewriter having a set of depressible keys associated with a set of type actions, each one of said actions comprising an intermediate member displaceable during the action operation, a cyclically operating mechanism conditionable for operation at the depression of each one of said keys, and an interponent connected to each one of said intermediate members and adapted to be coupled to a common oscillatable actuator at the depression of the associated key, said actuator being spring moved through its forward stroke for operating the action connected to the coupled interponent and being then restored by said mechanism, a faultsensing device comprising in combination:

(a) a set of yieldable elements each one normally locked by one of said intermediate members and adapted to be released thereby at the beginning of its displacement effected by said actuator,

(b) a displaceable universal bar adapted to be engaged by each one of said yieldable elements when so released,

(c) restraining means connected to said universal bar to prevent it from being displaced, a single yieldable element being insufiicient to overcome said restraining means, at least two of said yieldable elements being sufiicient to overcome said restraining means to displace said universal bar,

(d) and a normally ineffective intercepting member for said actuator, said intercepting member being connected to said universal bar as to be concomitantly moved therewith and being rendered effective when said universal bar is engaged simultaneously by at least two yieldable elements of said set to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than one action.

2. In a power operated typewriter having a set of depressible keys associated with a set of type actions, each one of said actions comprising an intermediate member displaceable during the action operation, a cyclically operating mechanism conditionable for operation at the depression of each one of said keys, and an interponent connected to each one of said actions and adapted to be coupled to a common oscillatable actuator at the depression of the associated key, said actuator being spring moved through its forward stroke for operating the action connected to the coupled interponent and being then restored by said mechanism, a fault-sensing device comprising in combination:

(a) a set of yieldable elements,

(b) urging means connected to each one of said yieldable elements for normally urging each yieldable element to contact one of said intermediate members, said yieldable elements being individually adapted to be released by the contacted intermediate member at the beginning of its displacement effected by said actuator,

(c) a rockable universal bar adapted to be engaged by each one of said yieldable elements when so released,

(d) an intercepting member for said actuator connected to said universal bar as to be concomitantly moved therewith,

(e) and a restraining spring connected to said universal bar to normally prevent it from being rocked and to hold said universal bar to such a position as to render said intercepting member ineffective, said restraining spring being so strong as to prevail over each one of said urging means and to be overcome by at least two of said urging means, whereby said universal bar is rocked and said intercepting member is rendered effective when said universal bar is engaged-simultaneously by at least two yieldable elements of said set to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than one action. I

3. In a power operated typewriter having a set of depressible keys associated with a set of type actions, each one of said actions comprising type bar, an intermediate member linked at one end to said type bar and displaceable during the action operation, a cyclically operating mechanism conditionable for operation at the depression of each one of said keys, and an interponent connected to each one of said intenmediate members and adapted to be coupled to a'common oscillatable actuator at the depression of the associated key, said actuator being spring moved through its forward stroke for operating the action connected to the coupled interponent and being then restored by said mechanism, a fault-sensing device comprising in combination:

(a) a set of pivotable levers each one normally urged by an individual spring to abut one of said intermediate members at the opposite end from the end linked to said type bar and adapted to be released thereby at the beginning of its displacement effected by said actuator,

(b) a rockable universal bar pivotally mounted coaxial with said levers and adapted to be engaged by each one of said levers when so released,

(0) an intercepting member for said actuator connected to said universal bar as to be concomitantly moved therewith,

(d) and a restraining spring normally urging said universal bar to such a position as to render said intercepting member ineffective, said restraining spring being so strong as to prevail over each one of said individual springs and to be overcome by at least two of said individual springs, whereby said universal bar is rocked and said intercepting member is rendered elfective when said universal bar is engaged simultaneously by at least two levers of said set thereby preventing the simultaneous operation of more than one action.

4. In a poWer operated typewriter having a set of depressible keys associated with a set of type actions, each one of said actions comprising an intermediate member displaceable during the action operation, a cyclically operating mechanism conditionable for operation at the depression of each one of said keys, and an interponent connected to each one of said actions and adapted to be coupled to a common oscillatable actuator at the depression of the associated key, said actuator being spring moved through its forward stroke for operating the action connected to the coupled interponent and being then restored by said mechanism, a fault sensing device comprising in combination:

(a) a set of leaf springs each one normally held slightly flexed by one of said intermediate members and adapted to be released thereby at the beginning of its displacement,

(b) a universal bar adapted to be engaged by each one of said leaf springs when so released,

(c) an intercepting member for said actuator connected to said universal bar,

((1) and another spring for urging said universal bar to such a position as to render said intercepting member ineffective, said another spring being so strong as to prevail over each one of said leaf springs and to be overcome by at least two of said leaf springs, whereby said intercepting member is rendered effective when said universal bar is engaged simultaneously by at least two leaf springs of said set to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than one action.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,112 5/1923 Crawley 19717 2,353,860 7/1944 Walker 19717 2,383,257 8/1945 Kittel 19717 3,151,722 10/1964 Salto 19717 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A POWER OPERATED TYPEWRITER HAVING A SET OF DEPRESSIBEL KEYS ASSOCIATED WITH A SECT OF TYPE ACTIONS, EACH ONE OF SAID ACTIONS COMPRISING AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER DISPLACEABLE DURING THE ACTION OPERATION, A CYCLICALLY OPERATING MECHANISM CONDITIONABLE FOR OPERATION AT THE DEPRESSION OF EACH ONE OF SAID KEYS, AND AN INTERPONENT CONNECTED TO EACH ONE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBERS AND ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED TO A COMMON OSCILLATABLE ACTUATOR AT THE DEPRESSION OF THE ASSOCIATED KEY, SAID ACTUATOR BEING SPRING MOVED THROUGH ITS FORWARD STROKE FOR OPERATING THE ACTION CONNECTED TO THE COUPLED INTERPONENT AND BEING THEN RESTORED BY SAID MECHANISM, A FAULTSENSING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A SET OF YIELDABLE ELEMENTS EACH ONE NORMALLY LOCKED BY ONE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBERS AND ADAPTED TO BE RELEASED THEREBY AT THE BEGINNING OF ITS DISPLACEMENT EFFECTED BY SAID ACTUATOR, (B) A DISPLACEABLE UNIVERSAL BAR ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY EACH ONE OF SAID YIELDABLE ELEMENTS WHEN SO RELEASED, (C) RESTRAINING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID UNIVERSAL BAR TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING DISPLACED, A SINGLE YIELDABLE ELEMENT BEING INSUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME SAID RESTRAINING MEANS, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID YIELDABLE ELEMENTS BEING SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME SAID RESTRAINING MEANS TO DISPLACE SAID UNIVERSAL BAR, (D) AND A NORMALLY INEFFECTIVE INTERCEPTING MEMBER FOR SAID ACTUATOR, SAID INTERCEPTING MEMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID UNIVERSAL BAR AS TO BE CONCOMITANTLY MOVED THEREWITH AND BEING RENDERED EFFECTIVE WHEN SAID UNIVERSAL BAR IS ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY BY AT LEAST TWO YIELDABLE ELEMENTS OF SAID SET TO PREVENT THE SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF MORE THAN ONE ACTION. 